Nimefurahi kukuona; jisikie nyumbani.

It has three parts:

• ni- = I
• -me- = a perfect/result marker
• -furahi = be happy / be glad

So nimefurahi literally means something like I have become glad or I am glad now. In natural English here, it is best understood as I’m happy/glad.

Because the two ku parts are doing different jobs:

• the first ku- is the infinitive marker: to
• the second -ku- is the object marker: you
• -ona = see

So:

• kuona = to see
• kukuona = to see you

This kind of stacking is very normal in Swahili.

In this sentence, kukuona is normally understood as you singular.

So the sentence is naturally addressed to one person:

• Nimefurahi kukuona; jisikie nyumbani.

If you were speaking to more than one person, you would usually change the forms, for example:

• Nimefurahi kuwaona; jisikieni nyumbani.

Context matters, but as written, this sentence sounds singular.

Because jisikie includes the reflexive idea yourself.

Breakdown:

• ji- = self / yourself
• -siki- = from -sikia, which can mean hear or feel
• -e = a form often used for polite commands, wishes, or encouragement

So jisikie means feel yourself or more naturally feel comfortable / feel at ease.

In this sentence, jisikie nyumbani is the idiomatic way to say feel at home or make yourself at home.

It comes from nyumba = house / home plus -ni, a locative ending.

So nyumbani means something like:

• at home
• in the house
• home

In jisikie nyumbani, it means feel at home. It does not mean the person is literally in their own house; it is an idiomatic, hospitable expression.

Usually, yes.

• Nimefurahi kukuona is a very natural way to say I’m glad to see you
• Ninafurahi kukuona is understandable, but it can sound more like I am happy seeing you or a more general ongoing feeling

In greetings and friendly reunions, nimefurahi is often the more idiomatic choice.

It is polite and warm, and it works well in many everyday situations.

It is not extremely formal, but it is respectful and natural. You could say it to:

• a guest
• a friend
• a relative
• a colleague

Also, Swahili does not change this for male vs. female speakers or listeners.

If you wanted a very common welcoming word, you might also hear:

• Karibu = Welcome

So a fuller welcome could be:

• Karibu, jisikie nyumbani.

Yes. That is exactly the kind of situation where it is used.

It is the Swahili equivalent of saying:

• Make yourself at home
• Feel at home

So even though nyumbani literally relates to home, the phrase is about making someone feel comfortable in your place.

A helpful way to break it up is:

• ni-me-fu-RA-hi
• ku-ku-O-na
• ji-si-KI-e
• nyum-BA-ni

A few pronunciation notes:

• Swahili words are usually stressed on the second-to-last syllable
• j sounds like English j in job
• ny sounds like the ny in canyon
• vowels are usually clear and pure: a, e, i, o, u

So the whole sentence is roughly:

ni-me-fu-RA-hi ku-ku-O-na; ji-si-KI-e nyum-BA-ni

Not especially. It mainly shows a pause between two related ideas:

• Nimefurahi kukuona = I’m happy to see you
• jisikie nyumbani = make yourself at home

In normal writing or speech, you could also separate them with:

• a period: Nimefurahi kukuona. Jisikie nyumbani.
• a comma in informal writing
• just a pause when speaking

The meaning stays the same.